Interpretation Toolkit on site in Parc Oriental (April 2006)

Based on the analysis of the specific needs and of existing interpretation tools and signage in parks and gardens in France, the UK and Germany, the EGHN Working Group Interpretation (led by Comité Régional du Tourisme, Parc Oriental de Maulévrier and un.sens) developed a toolkit for the enhancement of existing tools and the development of new interpretation and information systems. Pilot tools have been installed and tested at Parc Oriental.

On April 12th a workshop was held in Maulévrier to present these tools to local, regional and international experts, managers of gardens and representatives of both local and regional administration, parliaments and government. Their comments and the outcomes of two workshops held that day will be used to enhance some details of the tools. Other gardens in Europe will then use the design guidelines for their own activities. This transnational corporate identity will raise the awareness and interest for EGHN and its activities to make gardens visits more enjoyable and informative.

Imag[in]e the Garden started (January 2006)

Two photographers for the „Imag[in]e the Garden“ project have been selected in the UK and in Germany. There have been between 35 and 55 applications in both countries and 6 to 7 photographers or teams were invited to present their work and their suggestions to panels of experts in the UK or Germany. EGHN is very satisfied with the high quality of most applications. The selection was not easy, but the panels agree that the previous work and the new ideas of the winners are very promising.

Roy Mehta from the UK and the team Tanja Reinicke and Ekkehart Bussenius from Germany will travel between now and the summer to all five EGHN anchor gardens and some other selected gardens of the network to have a fresh look at those sites and to create their specific work of art. The results will feed into the touring exhibition, brochures and the website.

Two more Regional Routes on-line (December 2005)

More than 50 invited representatives and the media attended the presentation of the second garden route in Northrhine-Westphalia, worked out for the Münsterland. In this almoust flat, traditional agricultural landscape with its fields, hedges and forests, its typical market towns dominted by big churches, nd the big number of moated castles and houses, the theme of the route is "Gardens in the Münsterland Park Landscape". In addition to the parks, gardens and other sites of cultural, natural or historic importance, this route creates a link to typical high-quality local products. In cooperation with Slow Food 10 producers of cheese, bread, ham, schnaps etc. are presented on the website. This will allow addressing new target groups and joint promotional activities. On the same day the route for Pays de la Loire was published: "Gastronomy and the Art of LIving in the Gardens of Pays de la Loire". Visit www.wege-zur-gartenkunst.de for the German, French and English version.

First Anchor Garden Meeting (November 2005)

The first Anchor Garden Meeting of EGHN was held at and around Schloss Dyck in Northrhine-Westphalia on the 14th and 15th November 2005. Managers and owners of the EGHN anchor gardens, of other gardens of regional routes and European Themes (including observers from non-partner regions in France and Belgium) joined for this two day event to exchange about best practice and new challenges. They also discussed joint EGHN activities (e.g. an interpretation toolkit, education, accessibility) and an improved transnational marketing strategy. EGHN was very happy that “observers” joined the meeting, interested to become EGHN members as soon as the period funded by INTERREG will be finished. This shows that the EGHN initiative and activities are appealing to an increasing number of parks and gardens in Europe. The next meeting is scheduled for 30th and 31st March 2006 at Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset, UK. Please contact the project coordinator if you are interested in obtaining more information.

ImagINe the garden - a programme for creative photographers (August 2005)

EGHN is keen to employ three creative photographers or digital artists to create a bank of non-traditional garden images that will help to promote gardens to new groups of visitors.

One artist will be recruited from each of the three countries involved in the project: Germany, UK and France. Between September 2005 and July 2006 they will be expected to create images from selected gardens in two of the three partner countries. The fee offered for each of the three posts is € 6.000 exclusive of VAT and agreed travel and accommodation costs.

 

Please find more information: (Word-Doc)

 

New sub-website addressing the public on-line by June 14th (July 2005)

While the existing website (www.eghn.org) offers targeted information about EGHN for a professional audience, both key actions "Inter-Regional Gateways" and "European Themes" required a specific web presentation to address the general public.

This web site is now on-line with its first regional route. The "Garden Route of Cultural Events" in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (a sub-region in the east of Northrhine-Westphalia) was presented to the public during an event and press conference at the Kurpark Bad Driburg (the anchor garden for this route). The existing structure will be transferred into a content management system (CMS), ready to include all other routes and the European Themes and its gardens and to make updates very easy. All basic information as well as the first route are also available in French and English.

The new web site is available via this link, via the start page of www.eghn.org, directly via http://tourist.eghn.org and by using specific web addresses that the partners are invited to contribute. The German version for instance is also available as "www.wege-zur-gartenkunst.de". This will ensure better communication and marketing opportunities in each country.

New brochure and activities in Surrey (March 2005)

Surrey County Council has been working with VisitEngland (the national promotion organisation) and Tourism South East (the regional organisation) to raise the profile of gardens in promotion. As part of this an excellent brochure - "Unearth Surrey's Garden Treasures" has been produced, which will fit as part of the national and regional campaign. The role of EGHN to promote and to enhance the garden heritage as well as the INTERREG IIB NWE contribution to this campaign and to activities as the bus link to visit RHS Garden Wisley, Painshill Park (the EGHN anchor garden in Surrey) and the National Trust's Claremont Landscape Garden are featured in the brochure. In 2005 this service is available Monday - Saturday from 1 April and Sundays from 1 May.

The promotional work and the agreed actions should form the cornerstone for future work on European Themes and Inter-Regional Gateways.

LITTLE TREASURES : BIG REWARDS (February 2005)

This was the main headline and message of a one-day conference on the European Garden Heritage Network hosted by Somerset County Council at Hestercombe House on the 11th February.

Chaired by Nigel Mermagen and Alan Gloak (Somerset County Council) seven presentations and a roundtable discussion highlighted the contribution that parks and gardens give or can give to the heritage, quality of life, economic and tourism potentials of a county and a region. Papers presented by members of the EGHN team from Somerset, Surrey and Cheshire mad clear how the EGHN project intends to initiate or to support these potentials and effects. The open forum with more than 50 attendees was most useful as it highlighted the areas where those new to the project could contribute. There was a good understanding of what the project is about and how it can meet its remit and also a lot of positive comments.

Good progress on European Themes and Inter-Regional Gateways in Northrhine-Westphalia (February 2005)

The first joint meeting of the four Regional Steering Groups installed in the four sub-regions of Northrhine-Westphalia - bringing together more than 20 people - was a one day event starting with the presentation of the gardens to be featured under one of the four European Themes (the new name agreed to promote the Transnational Themes to a wider public) and the themes and gardens of the regional routes (as part of the Inter-Regional Gateways). The proposals presented were based on selection criteria and the result of many considerations during smaller meetings of the partner organisations, funding bodies and external experts. Although very positive responses were given to all proposals, further considerations and some modifications will follow remarks and recommendations given during the discussion. The meeting was also the forum to present the existing concept for the website to present gardens and themes and to discuss options for press conferences and additional promotional activities.

Sub regional economic strategy for Cheshire and Warrington (November 2004)

The economic strategy has been prepared in the context of a number of important strategies which include the Regional Economic Strategy (March 2003) and the Community Strategies for Warrington and for Cheshire. The strategy has been developed in response to the request from the NWDA for a strategy to help guide investment decisions in Cheshire.

The strategy is based on detailed analysis of the sub region and has developed a range of key features which have formed the 'strategy themes'. These are

• Expanding knowledge economy
• Managing and spreading success
• Connected sub region
• Enjoying distinctiveness

Culture and the environment, and more particularly gardens feature heavily in the last key theme 'Enjoying Distinctiveness'. This theme recognises that one of the greatest assets to the County is the distinctive quality of life and the environment, and we need to protect, sustain and invest in these environmental assets to build on their success, with gardens are included as one of the great environmental assets. There are a number of major schemes aimed at improving the environment and image outlined in the strategy. One of the projects already in place is the 'Green Fingers' - a major capital works programme of support to Cheshire's Garden Assets. Other future initiatives identified for future work of importance to EGHN are 'Garden Rider' - integrated bus link connecting garden assets.

These series of targeted projects will be brought forward over the next 3 to 5 years. The strategy is set to influence public sector spending on economic development including influencing the North West Development Agency.

Two new partners and additional measures approved (November 2004)

INTERREG IIIB NWE launched a targeted call for new projects but also for additional partners and/or additional measures to be included in ongoing projects. The modified application submitted by the Lead Partner on behalf of the partnership was successful:

Two organisations from Northrhine-Westphalia which already supported the project technically and financially did gain full partner status:
Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe;
Landschaftsverband Rheinland.
Both organisations (with more than 13,000 staff members each) have far reaching expertise and responsibilities in sectors like education and training, transport, health services, culture, heritage protection, parks and gardens. The experiences and results from projects both partners have realised will be made available to all partners and will feed into the further implementation of the key actions (in particular Inter-regional Gateways). Both partners will be very helpful to promote the project, to ensure a broader use of the results and a greater sustainability.

Furthermore some additional funding requests by Cheshire County Council (based on work already done in education and promotion of a garden website in Japan) were approved.